WASHINGTON -- Taxpayers already intimidated by the 1040 federal income tax form often are stumped or outraged when they get to the first question -- whether they want to give $1 to help finance presidential campaigns.

Over the last two years, the Federal Election Commission has gathered five groups of taxpayers to ask them about the $1 question and has found that most do not understand the process and many are just dismayed about the state of politics, said Fred Eiland, a commission spokesman.

``People felt things were just not going right,`` he said. ``Apparently, they did not feel that checking `yes` was going to change the system.``

Tax preparers say fewer people are saying OK to campaign financing.

``Some of them, especially the unemployed, really take personal offense,`` said Frank Sanders, district manager for H&R Block in Boca Raton. ``The $1 checkoff is not going well at all.``

One tax preparer laughed and said that many people look at her with disgust and respond, ``Are you kidding?`` when asked whether they want to earmark the $1.

Checking yes or no does not change your tax or reduce your refund. It directs a dollar of the tax you already pay to be used for presidential elections.

Accountants say some people understand the process, but are obstinate about checking ``no.``

``They hate the government and what`s going on in politics and they don`t want to have anything to do with it,`` said Coral Springs accountant Richard Russell.

The commission argues that it is the one time taxpayers can exercise some control over how one of their tax dollars is spent. The disbursement rules are strict, commission officials say.

To be eligible to receive the matching funds, a candidate must first raise $100,000 in contributions from individuals: $5,000-plus in 20 different states, in amounts of no more than $250 from any individual contributor.

Candidates must also agree to abide by spending limits, to keep certain records, and to submit those records for audit.

The checkoff money is divided three ways. This year, those figures add up to:

-- $110 million for campaigns of the general election candidates.

-- $39 million for primary election campaigns.

-- $22 million for the nominating conventions.

There will be enough money this year, but election officials predict trouble in 1996 unless Congress revises the legislation to increase the amount.

``The pot doesn`t grow, but the payout does,`` Eiland said, explaining that the money paid to the candidates is indexed for inflation. ``The $1 is the same $1 that was in the original legislation in 1971.``

The checkoff began with the 1972 tax forms and the percentage of people who checked ``yes`` grew until 1980, when almost 28 percent gave the $1, for a contribution of about $40 million.

The percentage started falling after that and has dropped to about 20 percent of taxpayers for each of the last three years, amounting to about $32 million, Eiland said.

FUNDING

Candidates have received the following amounts in federal matching funds: